Guide Me If You Dare-Chapter 306: PRICE TO PAY

"AND THAT was what happened, Noa Hyung."

Moon Noa couldn’t believe what Ryu Sungbin had just told him.

But he couldn’t blame the Esper for the choice that he made.

Hence, he glared at the System that was currently using Ki Gayoon’s appearance.

To be honest, it was unnerving that the System copied the visual of their country’s strongest Esper, but he could see why the System made that choice.

It’s probably for Sungbin-ah to pull himself together.

"I don’t want to be saved," Moon Noa said sternly. No, he was actually begging not to be saved. "Give my spot to Ryu Sungbin and get them out of here now."

"Hyung, please don’t be like this," Ryu Sungbin begged Moon Noa in a tired voice. "We don’t have time to argue."

Moon Noa still wanted to protest, but the System cut him off. 𝘧𝑟𝑒𝑒𝘸𝘦𝘣𝑛𝑜𝘷𝑒𝓁.𝘤𝘰𝓂

"Esper Ryu Sungbin’s decision is irreversible. Moreover, I’ve alredy begun the process of protecting your Core from being influenced by the Virus."

"Then stop the procedure!"

"You’ll die on the spot if I stop now, Guide Moon Noa."

"What?"

"Before I stopped the time, the pink blob you call ’Bambi’ had already stolen half of your heart— which also means half of your Core is gone."

Oh.

No wonder Moon Noa thought he was going to die earlier.

I was really dying back then...

Worse, half of his heart and Core were stolen by that pink blob monster!

I can’t believe this...

"Noa Hyung, we don’t have much time left. So, let me explain it briefly: I’m going to hand over the country to the Virus— and I’m going to join their side. Matthew and Jin Sooin, too."

"Sungbin-ah...!"

"We utterly lost tonight, Noa Hyung," Ryu Sungbin said sternly. "If I don’t negotiate with the Virus, that thing would kill us all. But if I give it what it wants, then we’d get the chance to regroup later. We’re sending Lee Sarang to Ki Gayoon. For now, I’ll pretend to join their side."

Of course, Moon Noa could see where Ryu Sungbin was coming from.

However, that didn’t mean it would be easy for him to accept his decision.

"Sungbin-ah, do you think you can pretend to be the Virus’s subordinate for long?" Moon Noa asked, frustrated. "Those monsters have the ability to steal other people’s bodies and wear human skin. What makes you think they don’t have the ability to brainwash or control you? Of course they do! The Virus is as intelligent as humans. That bastard knows there’s no way you’d be loyal to it. And, yet, it still wants you to join its side. That only means they have a way to make you follow them!"

"Of course, I know that, Hyung," Ryu Sungbin said firmly. "But, like I said, we don’t have a choice. We have to survive this situation first. If I refuse the Virus’s offer, we’ll all die. Once it happens, we won’t only lose our country— we’ll lose the entire world."

Moon Noa could only clench his hands tight because he knew Ryu Sungbin was right.

"Guide Moon Noa, just like me, the Virus hasn’t recovered its full strength yet from our previous fight. That’s why it’s only trying to swallow this country and not the entire world yet. So, it’s better to give up your control over this country in the meantime. Once the Virus gets what it wants, I’m sure it will slow down and continue its slumber. That means the country will be left in the hands of the humans it controls."

"And I’ll keep an eye on whoever will be left in charge of this country once the Virus is out of the picture," Ryu Sungbin added. It seemed like it had already formulated a plan with the System. "The System promised that it would make a system for us to communicate without the Virus knowing."

"It won’t be easy, but I’ll find a way," the System, still appearing as Ki Gayoon, promised. "And, while I’m at it, I’ll do my best to lessen whatever influence the Virus will place on Esper Ryu Sungbin."

Moon Noa was still not convinced that it was a good plan.

However, he didn’t get the chance to voice out his worries when they heard a sharp static sound.

Then, suddenly, the System’s body turned semi-transparent.

"My time is up," the System said as the appearance of ’Ki Gayoon’ started to melt. "Esper Ryu Sungbin, Guide Moon Noa, you’ll return to where you are five seconds before I froze time. I’ll teleport Esper Lee Sarang, Esper Kwak Hakjae, and Guide Moon Noa to a safe place after. I leave the rest to you."

And, just like that, the System had disappeared completely.

"Noa Hyung, just like what you said earlier, the Virus might find a way to control or brainwash me and the others," Ryu Sungbin said in a hurried voice. And then he smiled sadly at Moon Noa. "I’ll fight it as much and as long as I can. But if I act rude to you and say bad things, I apologize in advance."

At that point, Moon Noa felt a lump in his throat. "Sungbin-ah..."

"I don’t know what kind of bastard I’ll be in the future, but please remember that underneath the mask I’d be wearing by then, my heart won’t change— I love you, Noa Hyung," Ryu Sungbin said, still smiling despite the tears rolling down his cheeks. "I always have, and I always will."

Moon Noa burst into tears— his chest tightening not because of an exterior force, but because his heart hurt for Ryu Sungbin and their inevitable separation. "Sungbin-ah, I love—"

Ryu Sungbin disappeared before Moon Noa could even finish his confession.

***

AS SOON as Ryu Sungbin found himself back to where he stood before time froze, he immediately looked for Moon Noa.

The S-Class Guide’s blood-curdling scream was cut short when he disappeared.

Good!

That meant the System was able to take Moon Noa out of that place.

Ryu Sungbin then looked over his shoulder.

He felt relieved when he saw Lee Sarang and Kwak Hakjae surrounded by blinding white lights that lifted them.

However, that relief didn’t last long.

After all, only Kwak Hakjae had disappeared instantly.

Lee Sarang, on the other hand, suddenly dropped to the ground.

And then their maknae let out a scream while clutching her head tightly.

"AHHH!"

"Lee Sarang!"

Ryu Sungbin tried to run towards Lee Sarang, but a tall shadow blocked his way.

"Ah. So, the System has still some strength left in it, huh?"

Tsk.

"Too bad for you, Esper Ryu Sungbin— I am far stronger than the System you trust."

Then the evil bastard reached its elongated ’arm’ to touch Ryu Sungbin’s head.

Of course, he tried to move away.

However, he suddenly lost control of his body.

Dammit!

Needless to say, Ryu Sungbin had been utterly and helplessly defeated that night.

***

LEE SARANG?

Ki Gayoon furrowed his brows when his connection with Lee Sarang suddenly disappeared.

What the fuck happened while I was away?

***

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